SEMINARS

Seminars are small classes – limited to 19 students – that fulfill graduation requirements. Many of the seminars involve activities in New York City. Seminars are an excellent way to connect with peers and faculty in a relaxed and friendly setting.

Art in the Information Age: Explores how the emergence of new media and technology affects the process of making and appreciating art. Also explores how the internet, social media platforms, and Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) in film and video games have influenced how we engage with visual culture.

ASTRONOMY

Cosmic Explosions: The Cataclysmic Lives of Stars and Galaxies: This course begins with an investigation of the birth and lives of stars, including stars like our sun. From there we talk about galaxies that are composed of these stars and the supermassive black holes that lurk at the hearts of most galaxies.

Getting to Know Our Solar System: From the Ancient Greeks to Interstellar Life: Examines the evolution of ideas about our sun, the planets and their moons, and asteroids in our solar system. We also examine planets orbiting other stars in other solar systems, and consider the possibility of extraterrestrial life in all of these places.

COMPARATIVE LITERATURE

Demons, Devils, and Self-Destruction: Through the lenses of literature, examines possible explanations for why humans are capable of profound kindness, compassion and generosity, and at the same time, they consistently do harm to themselves, to others, and to the world around them.

DRAMA

Broadway(and More!): This seminar ventures beyond the classroom to explore stage production on Broadway andoff-Broadway.The L.I.V. E. NYC living-learning community is a good option if you register for this seminar. Visit hofstra.edu/livelearn for information.

ECONOMICS

Macro Freakonomics: Taught in the spirit of the book Freakonomics, this course examines the underlying trends of the economy in order to understand long- term and short-term crises and the future of capitalism.

ENGINEERING

Ultrasound in Medicine: This seminar is an introduction to the techniques and applications of diagnostic, therapeutic and interventional ultrasound in the major regions of the body. Appropriate for both science and non-science majors.

ENGLISH

Poetry and Popular Song Lyrics: Song lyrics provide a window into the lives and times of popular audiences, and are therefore worthy of analysis and interpretation. In this seminar we consider the interplay between words, music, lyrics, and literature.

Political Fictions, Political Theater: Examines fiction and drama that comments on political events, economic upheaval, war, race, gender, and justice. We will read narratives about people caught in the whirlpool of power struggles against the political machinery.

FINE ARTS

Curious Stranger: Experimental Drawing: This is a drawing course devoted to the exploration of alternative techniques, methods and concepts in contemporary art. Students will develop individual artworks and experiment with materials and processes that contribute to a broadened understanding of drawing as a discipline.

Photographic Possibilities: Darkroom and Digital: How is light captured and what can we do with the results? This course examines traditional, digital, and unorthodox ways to exploit light and shadow to create meaningful pictures and make art.

GEOLOGY

Geology of NYC and Long Island: Public health, public transportation, water works, and environmental protection affect our daily lives, and all depend on the subjects of geology and engineering. In this course students examine large-scale issues of public concern in New York City and on Long Island through the lens of a geologist.

HISTORY

The Trump Presidency in Historical Perspective: The Trump presidency is one of the most controversial in our country's history. In this course, we will examine ongoing issues, while putting them in historical context. What are the major historical trends that can help to explain the polarization in American political life?

Taking a knee: Sport and Politics in Global History: Examines the long history of sport as a site of political protest and uses sport history as a way to understand important social movements during the twentieth century.

Slavery in New York: Examines the history of New York City before the Civil War, through the struggle to end slavery.

The L.I.V.E. NYC living-learning community is a good option if you register for this seminar.Visit hofstra.edu/livelearn for information.

LEGAL EDUCATION ACCELERATED PROGRAM (LEAP)

Law, Politics, and Society: Required for students admitted to the Legal Education Accelerated Program, this course explores how the American legal system developed, how it interacts with the rest of our political institutions, and how it reflects the cultural norms, class distinctions, and idiosyncrasies of our society.

LINGUISTICS

Get to know New York Lingo: Languages in New York City: This course is an introduction to how New York's many language communities contribute to the vitality of the great city. The L.I.V.E. NYC living-learning community is a good option if you register for this seminar.Visit hofstra.edu/livelearn for information.

PHILOSOPHY

The Meaning of Life: This class pursues questions about the meaning of life through discussions and readings.

Ignorance, Lies, Hogwash, and Humbug: On Truth and Knowledge: Truth is sometimes said to be the aim of inquiry, a criterion of knowledge, and the relation between thought or language and the world. This class pursues the truth about truth through class discussions and readings.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

T’ai Chi: Students learn the basic movements of this ancient form of self-defense, as well as how to calm the emotions and focus the mind.

Learning to Learn: Applying Psychology Principles to the Classroom: Examines how psychological research on attention, memory, and learning can be applied to your own learning. Through written reflections and class discussions, you will take a close look at your own study behaviors and weight their worth against findings from psychological research.

CSI: Psychology (or, What Psychologists Could Teach Lawyers): Examines the validity of eyewitness identifications, the effect of racism within the criminal justice system, the efficacy of psychological jury selection, and some cognitive and social dynamics of juror deliberation.

SUSTAINABILITY STUDIES

Hot Topics in Environmental Science: In an era featuring increased political conflict and swifter spread of information through social media, how do we consume, interpret, and communicate information relating to the environment? This course is an introduction to topics in climate change, sustainability, and environmental justice, and how each plays an integral role in our modern society.

STUDENT SUCCESS

University 101. This course is designed to assist first-year students in making a positive adjustment to University life. Through discussions, readings, and assignments, students will develop the skills and awareness that will serve them throughout their years at Hofstra and in the future.

For more information, please contact:Center for University Advising101 Memorial Hall, South CampusPhone: 516-463-6770 or 516-463-7222Email: Advising[at]hofstra.edu